Daylight-loading film-pack.



J. E. THORNTON.

DAYLIGHT LOADING FILI PACK.

APPLIOATTN FILED ILY 20, 1907.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

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J. E. THORNTON. DAYLIGHT LOADING HLM nox. I APPLICATION FILED HAY 20, 1907. i 91 5,126. Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

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DAYLIGHT LOADING FILM PACK.

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91 5,126. Patnted Mar. 16, 1909.

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J. E. THORNTON. DAYLIGHT LOADING HLMPAGK. APPLIGATION FILED nu zo. 1907.

91 5 126. Patented Mar. 16, 1909. I SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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l J. E. THORNTON DYLIGHT LOADING HLM' nox. Y

LPPLIUATIDI FILED I'AY 20, 1907. I

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J. E. THORNTON.V DAYLIGHT LOADING FILI PACK.

APPLIGATTON FILED HAY H0, 1907.

Patented Mar, 16, 1909.

J. t2. THORNTON. DAYLIGHT LOADING FILM PACK.

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91 5, 126. I Patented Mar. 16, 1909. T f l f 'l SEHEN-SHEET 7.

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UNITED sTATEs PALDENT oEEicE.

JOHN EDWARD THoRNToN, oF ALTEINGHAM, ENGLAND.

miniem-LOADING FILM-PACK.

To all whom it may concern: j

Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARD THORN- TON, British subject, and resident ofV Altrincham, county of Chester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Daylight-Loading Film-Packs, of which lthe following is a specification.

This invention relatesto daylight-loading film packages (sealed packages of films) known as film packs, and 'comprises 'improvements upon my former patent N o. 666039.

The object and purpose of the invention is to provide (1) a filmv pack of simpler and cheaper construction, and (2)4 one that will maintain the unex osed and the ex osed films pressed close y together in their res ective piles or bundles, so-that they are aways kept truev in the focal plane for exposure, and are ke t in such close contact in both positions t at no light can gain ingress between the. films; (3) and also in combination with the means for obtaining this resultX a simple form of valve or light tra 'flic invention will be fully described with reference to the accom anying drawings forming part of the specl cation.

Figure 1. is a perspective view of the tabbed film A. Fig. 2. is a perspective view of the double expanding pressure pad with faces -E and F. Fig. 3." is another perspec'- tive view of the double expanding pressure pad showin a modified construction'of the i ht valve Fig. 4. is a perspective view o the tubular form .of outer case or envelop B closed at top and with flaps b3 to close the bottom. Fig. 5. is a perspective view of the tubular form of the outer case or envelop B with end covering caps G and G. Fig. 6. is a perspective view of outer case or envelop B made with 'a front part b and a back art b and cli s b2 'tosecure them to ether. ig. 7. is a ongitudinal section rawn to. an enlarged scale) showing a Vcomplete film pack with the films A in position around the expanding pressure ad lac-ed in the outer case or envelop ig. 8. is a sectional plan of same on line :1c-fz., Fig.- 7.

Fig. 9. is a sectional-plan of same on line y.-fy., Fig. 7. Figs. 10. and 11. are pers ective views of the spring g for pressing the aces E and F of the spring pressure pad a art and the spring h for the light valve D. igsQlZ. to 16. are sectional elevations of the film pack (Without films) showing modifications Spe-cicationof Letters Patent. Application med may zo, 19m. seal No. 374,680.

- as the packing .Patented March 16,v 1909.

`of construction of same and of the light valve D and means for excluding light around V the edges of the spring fessure pad. Fi s. 17. to 23. are .sectional elevations of 51e spring pressure pady showing further modifications of same and of the li ht valve D. In carrying out the invention t e im roved lin pack as a Whole comprises the fo owing parte. (a) A number of films A with tabs c y which to transfer the films from back to front of the case and opaque backing A. to prevent light passing through from one 'to the one behindit, and with retaining tabs a on the lower edge. (.b) Shoulders a2 on the films to prevent thefilmswbein drawn out of the case, and retaining ta s a by which the films are held .in position in the case B. (c) A li ht tight outer case or envelop B to hold t films which serves both ing case or ho der. (d) A'double expan in spring pad or pressure plate with front an back faces E ,and F which (as the film pack leaves the factory, and before use divides the case into three parts, the center ein 0cF case, storage case and ex oscupied by the pad, the front by the pe of unexposed films; and the back by the extension tabs attached thereto; bu-t which when s all the films have been exposed, divides the case into two parts, the frontbeing occupied by the ad, and the back occupied by the whole of) the exposed films minus their sev ered tabs; and which also serves to close and make the packa e ht.tight, afteruse. (e). Plush (or like) rus es to effect hght-t1ght joints between case and pressure pad,' and also to afford 1ti'rilelding edges that tend to prevent friction es on the films. (f) A lightF ti ht valve D permitting the manipulating ta to pass fromthe inside to the outside o the case. (g). Stops b4 formed in the case. B to engaffe the film shoulders and prevent the entiiel p safety-cover or fiexb e shutter to protect .the

withdrawn. (h.) vA. y

front film of the package frolli light before exposure. (i) Clips for securing or sealing the,package, but at the same time permitting the user to open and re-seal the ies when desiring to remove only part o the m contents for development.

The tabbed film A is referabl made as Shown with the tab a an opaque licking A in one piece, the tab being cemented at one' i l an opaque soluble colorin matter in the film,

as described in my pen ing application for United States atentl Serial Number 37.2056 filed 6th day o May 1907.

The light tight caseLB may be made tubular with an exposure opening b inthe front face, permanently closed at one end and at the other end open through `which the con- 1 can be inserted comprising ad, the bundle of films A, and light valve The end is closed by flaps b3 held in osition by clips b2. The clips b2 are of 'flexl le metal and permit of the case being opened to withdraw. a portion of the films for development and enable the pack to be closed again and resealed. (See 1 1 tents of the pac the spring pressure 4). `he light tight ease B ma be constructed in tubular form with caps VGr to cover the ends, one ca G being slotted to allow the tabs aof the s A to pass through (see-Fig. 5). The caps G G may be of cardboard or metal. In another modification the lighttight case B may -be made of-two parts which fit to etherv one sliding into the other and se.`

cure by clips b2 as in Fig. 6.

` The oub e ex anding spring pressure ad is constructed o two plates E and F wit a light spring between them to cause them to expand. T e plates .E and metal, card, or wood and the springs g may be of fine wire or thin metal. .The two plates E and F are connected together at the side edges, or along the top and bottom edges by hinges or gussets e of cloth, pa er or other flexible material which will a ow the spring g to ex and between them, or the two plates E an F may be formed of one piece of'card so bent or creased that the expanding gusset forms part of same as in 20. In another form two lates E and ofthe spring pressure pa `may be connected by the-spring g etween, them the spring bein secured partly to one plate and partly to te other. The spring g is preferably made of ne metal wirein rectangularv form, and crimpedror corrugated to give the desired convolutions as in Figs. 10 and 11or 1t may be stamped from sheet metal, or it may be otherwise formed. To facilitate easy transference 2f the films A from one side to lthe other f the expanding pad, a rounded noseis formed at the top end by rounding eac plate of the pad-say by bending them in a ress each in the opposite 'direction to the ot er. The combination of may be of the double rounded nose -wlth the` expansibility in this spring pad overcomes one of the difficulties existing in previous forms.

To insure the films pulling over easily it is necessary that the rounded nose f should be as wide as possible, to obviate the bending of the films over too narrow an edge. With a single division plate, as employed in my former United States patent 666039, the effective width of the edge `or nose over which the films are drawn is constantly lessening as each successive film is drawnl over;

whereby b this expanding pad the effective -width of t e nose remains practically constant because as the films are removed the plates expand or move apart. In order toguard against the possibility of the ingress of light around the expanding division pad E F, and passing from front to back thereof, and also to afford soft yielding edges instead of hard rigid ones and thereby revent the production of friction lines on the Elm, stri s of plush e2 may be applied to any part of t e case or pad. For lnstance narrow strips of lush e2 may be securednear 90 the to front s1de of the case B,Vand top back side o the back plate F of the pad, as 1n Fig. 12. Or if preferred the strips e2 may instead be placed on the inside near the top of the case where such-will make contact with'the 95 top rounded edges of the two spzring plates, or the tabs around them as in ig.v 16. In either case such stri s will have the effect of. formingfa plug whic closes the top opening of the front and back film chambers. A 100 strip or covering of plush may alsobe applied to the plate E of the ex ansion pad to seal the exposure opening int e case B when all the films have been Withdrawn as in Fig. 14. The light tight valve D through which the manipulating tabs a of the film A pass is ybuilt up of two pieces of plush d d in any of the several ways indicated in the drawings, according to the size and style of theouter case B. The valve may be formed of two 110 strips of plush d d the strip d attached to the bottom'edge of the back plate F of the expanding ad and the strip d to the bottom edge of t e back ofthe case B as in Figs. 2, 7,12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 1S, 19 and 20, with the 11.5 result that when the parts are assembled the film tabs are clipped between the two plush strips. They are pressed Aclosely together on the tabs owing to the spring in the 'expansion pad, but if necessary a stronger 120 spring h may be placed behindthe movable section of the valve.

In order that the pressure of the weak vspring g and the strongspring 'h shall be 50 inserted in the case B with the tabs a extend- 'In order that t stripj'gor else, when the plate -is formed of cardboard, making one ormore creases by any of the well-known forms of bendingr machines). Thus, although the lower section of this late carrying the plush strip is pressed up ard by its own spring behind, the upper section is free to float independently'under the pressure of its weaker spring. e lower strong spring may not press against the front plate of the pad, the latter maybe cut shorter as in Fig. 17, in order to clear thespring and allow it to press against the front' flange of the case B.

In another form the light valve D may be of two 1pieces d linked together, with a slot throng which the tabs pass, and attached to a separateA block for insertion below the expanding pad E F as in Fig. 3, or such strips may be attachedlto the back plate F as 1n Fi s. 221 and 23.

y p ac` l one of the lush stri s above the other alsllign Fi 16 a toituous insltead of a straight assage or the tabs a of the films A is forme The stops which arrest the movement of the films A and prevent them being drawn out of the case B with the tabs a are formed by means of a slot, such as is shown in several aol of the figures ofthe drawings, through which the tabs pass. This slot 1s in length only equal to the width of the ltabs a, conse quently the shoulders a2 formed Non the films stop against the ends of the slots and revent the films being drawn through. he slot may be formed in the bottom of the case,

, or in the -cap that closes it, or by a separate venient manner.

' faces, as in Fig. 22.

kwhich a similar tab isattached, the

A convenient number of such :tabbed backed films A, sav 6 or 12, are placed in a pile, and in front of the first one is placed an opaque dummy, which may conveniently be made-of two or three separate la ers, .to ms are placed around the expanding pad E F and ing .three parts, of which the expanding pad is the center with the filmsA at one side and the tabs .a at the other side. All the films A m abuts against the front flange of the case in correct position for-exposure., This is theffirst function of the expanding spring pad F. When' all up, so that thel the filmshave been exposed and drawn over from the front to the back side4 of the s ring pad E F, the case B is then only divide into twoi parts, the front'one'bein occu iedby the spring pad E F and the bac o ne orming one single chamber containing the whole of the films, the tabs which formerly occupied it having been drawn out of the chamber through the valve D. and torn ofi". The spring pad now performs its second and third functions, viz., its front plate E abuts against'the front flange of the o se and closes the exposure opening against the entry vof light; 'and its back plate F presses the exposed films so closely together that light and air are effectually 4excluded and prevented fr'om entering between them, even in case any should enter at Ithe front of the case owing to accidental displacement of the front plate b pressureagainst the same. In all revious known forms of daylight loading fi Iny packs the unexposed films were \pressed together 'by a single springfollower plate, the springs being carried either by some portion of the case, or by an inner lchamber laced within .the case. Thus, although t e s ace in the frontsection before the pressure'p ate was constantly diminishing as the films were drawn over, the space in the backY section was always of the same fixed size, the films lying more or less loosely therein. But with the double expanding spring pad E F the space behind increases and the space before decreases as the films are drawn over, the position of thetwo plates E F of the double spring pad continually shiftin As the space occupied by the bundle'of backed films and bundle .of tabs before use is reater than the s ace occupied by the single undle of backed lms after use, this difference `is also taken up and compensated for by the further expansion of the ad. l l hat I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent isz 1.*In a sealed packet for liolding-at photographic lfilms for daylight loading, the

combinationv withV a light tight inc sing' `envelro and a light tight valve,of a double expan ing floatings ring pad comprising plates E and F, a delicate sprin placed be-4 tween the plates and ,a i'ounde expanding nose f over which the films are drawn substantially as described.

2. In a' sealed packet for holding flat photographie films for daylight loading, the combination with a Alight tight inc osing envelo and a lighttight valve of a double expan ing floating spring `pad comprising plates E and F, a delicate spring -placed between the plates and a light valve `D substantially as described.

3. In a sealed acket for` holding photo- .raphic films for ay light loading the combination with a light tight inclosing envelop plates E and F connected toget and a light tight valve of a double expanding floating spring pad comprising plates E and F, flexlble joints to connect the plates E and F, a delicate s ring placed between the plates, a stri of plus d attached to the back plate F and) a sprin h to close the valve substantially as descri ed.

4. In a sealed packet for holding photographic films for day light loading, the combinatlon vwith a light tlght inclosing envelo and a light tight valve of a double expan ing floating spring pad com rising two er by fieXile joints, rounded top edges forming a ydouble rounded nose f, a delicate spring bel tween the lates to expand the two sections of the padp outwardly and press the unexposed and exposedfilms respectively in opposite directions substantially as described..

5. In a sealed packet for holding flat photographic films or da light loading, the combinatlon with a ligllit tight inclosing envelo and a light tighty Vvalve of a double expan ing floating spbring pad comprising plates E and F fiexl le jomts to connect the plates E and F, a dehcate s ring being placed between the plates, an strips of plushattached to the case and to the pad to exclude light and prevent scratching'of the tabs a', shoulders a2 a safety cover for the films, a light tight case B, a light valve D, a spring h to c ose the valve, stops on the case to engage the shoulders a2 of the films and prevent the withdrawal of the films through the valve D, and a double eX anding floating spring pad which divides t e case into three arts, comprising the two plates E F, flexible joints by which they are connected together, and a delicate spring g by which the plates are forced apart substantially as described.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subv scribing witnesses. l

JOHN EDWARD THORNTON.

Witnesses:

J. OWDEN OBRIEN, H. BARNFATHER. 

